A day after the controversy sparked by an advertisement related to the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) new launch complex in Tamil Nadu, featuring a 'Chinese flag', DMK leader and Fisheries Minister Anitha R Radhakrishnan admitted on Thursday that it was a "small mistake" by the designer. Calling it a small mistake, Radhakrishnan clarified that the DMK had no ulterior motives behind it.
"A small mistake occurred in the advertisement. We harbour no other intentions. Our hearts are filled only with love for India," Radhakrishnan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The minister recalled that the late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi was the first to advocate for a new launch complex for ISRO in Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
He said that Chief Minister MK Stalin and Thoothukudi Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi had always urged the Centre to establish the launch complex in the state.
Hence, the decision was made to run an advertisement in newspapers to highlight the efforts made by DMK leaders to bring the project to Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan said.
He admitted that the designers of the advertisement had made an oversight that went unnoticed by them.
"The image of the Chinese flag in the advertisement welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a mistake by those who designed the advertisement, which went unnoticed by us," the minister said.
However, BJP leader and Union Minister L Murugan demanded an apology from the DMK to the public for publishing the advertisement.
Reacting to the DMK's clarification that the 'China' reference was a mistake, Murugan told the news agency PTI, "It is our responsibility to showcase the Indian flag in the advertisement, and they (DMK) must apologise to the public. Only India's achievements should be highlighted".
On February 28, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new ISRO launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam, worth approximately Rs 986 crore.
The complex, capable of hosting 24 launches annually, comprises 35 facilities and features mobile launch structures (MLS) with checkout computers, signifying a significant advancement in space exploration capabilities.
During his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, PM Modi strongly criticized the DMK for allegedly disregarding the nation's achievements in the space sector.
Addressing a BJP rally, PM Modi accused the DMK of merely taking "false credit" for Central schemes and affixing its 'stickers' on them.
"Now they have crossed the line. They have associated themselves with China to claim credit for the ISRO launchpad in Tamil Nadu. This is an insult to our space scientists, the space sector, your tax money, and the nation," he remarked.
In an X post, the PM said, "DMK's advertisement today is laughable. They have disrespected Indian science and the Indian space sector, for which they owe an apology".